Bread fork was one of the highly specialized table

serving utensil Tableware items are the dishware and utensils used for setting a table, serving food, and dining. The term includes cutlery, glassware, serving dishes, serving utensils, and other items used for practical as well as decorative purposes. The q ...

s of the

Victorian era In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the reign of Queen Victoria, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. Slightly different definitions are sometimes used. The era followed the ...

. This three-

tined Tines (; also spelled tynes), prongs or teeth are parallel or branching spikes forming parts of a tool or natural object. They are used to spear, hook, move or otherwise act on other objects. They may be made of wood, bone, metal, or similar mat ...

piece of silverware was shaped like a

trident A trident (), () is a three- pronged spear. It is used for spear fishing and historically as a polearm. As compared to an ordinary spear, the three tines increase the chance that a fish will be struck and decrease the chance that a fish will b ...

with a great variety of handles, some being very elaborate. The sole purpose of the utensil was to carry a slice of bread or a

bread roll A bread roll is a small, oblong individual loaf of bread served as a meal accompaniment (eaten plain or with butter). Rolls can be served and eaten whole or are also commonly cut and filled – the result of doing so is considered a '' sandwic ...

from the service plate to the personal

bread and butter plate A plate is a broad, mainly flat vessel on which food can be served. A plate can also be used for ceremonial or decorative purposes. Most plates are circular, but they may be any shape, or made of any water-resistant material. Generally plate ...

. Serving food with fingers was a

taboo A taboo is a social group's ban, prohibition or avoidance of something (usually an utterance or behavior) based on the group's sense that it is excessively repulsive, offensive, sacred or allowed only for certain people.''Encyclopædia Britannica ...

at the time, with few exceptions, like eating a bread roll. It was considered impolite to take a piece of bread from the bread basket or pass it without the use of bread fork. The fork, with its long (up to three-inch) tines, was invented in England and had some practical use there due to the tradition of serving a whole loaf to the table and cutting it as needed. The person in charge of cutting had to pass the slices somehow, and the fork was a safer replacement for a knife. In the US bread was usually served pre-sliced, making the fork unnecessary. The forks were marketed separately or in a set with the

bread knife Bread knives are used for cutting bread and are one of many kitchen knife, kitchen knives used by cooks. The serrated blades of bread knives are able to cut soft bread without crushing it. History One such knife was exhibited at the World's Co ...

. The utensil proved to be little-used and was only popular for a very short time at the end of the 19th century (an 1893 fashion review considered it a novelty). As a result, there is a large variety of bread forks in excellent condition available in the

antique store An antique () is an item perceived as having value because of its aesthetic or historical significance, and often defined as at least 100 years old (or some other limit), although the term is often used loosely to describe any object that i ...

s. Due to their fancy shapes, these forks are frequently repurposed for serving the meat. Bread forks 01.png Bread forks 02.png Bread forks 03.png Bread forks 04.png

References

Sources

* * * * Forks {{bread-stub